Young Audiences Arts for Learning Announces 60th Anniversary National Conference, 4/25-27

Young Audiences Arts for Learning (YA) is proud to announce our culminating 60^th anniversary event, the Young Audiences 60^th Anniversary National Conference. The 60th Anniversary National Conference is a three-day symposium that will include peer-to-peer discussions regarding current issues and trends in arts-in-education, unrivaled professional development opportunities, and a visit to one of Young Audiences' affiliate programs in New York City, New Jersey, or Connecticut. The National Conference begins on Thursday, April 25 and concludes on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

Among the highlights of the 60^th Anniversary National Conference is the line-up of keynote speakers,Richard Kessler, Dean, Mannes College, The New School of Music; AyAnna Hudson, Art Education Director, National Endowment for the Arts; and Ben Cameron, Program Director for the Arts at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Richard Kessler is a nationally recognized expert in K-12 arts education. He has been an executive, consultant, teacher, and leading thinker in all areas of K-12 arts education, including policy, teaching and learning, funding, and research. AyAnna Hudson has developed and led the implementation of Arts for All, a Los Angeles based program, ensuring equitable access to arts education for 1.6 million students in the county's 81 school districts, the largest educational system in the country. At the Doris Duke Foundation, Ben Cameron supervises a $13 million grants program aimed at the theatre, contemporary dance, and jazz fields.

There is an impressive selection of breakout sessions scheduled for Thursday, April 25 and Saturday, April 27. Participants can learn the latest on the Common Core Standards and the impact this new initiative will have on education. It will be led by Dr. Nancy Rubino and Amy Charleroy from the Office of Academic Initiatives, The College Board. AyAnna Hudson (Arts Education Director at the NEA) is leading a breakout session that will present information about the NEA's Arts Education funding category, how to apply to the NEA, and advice on preparing a strong application. Other highlights include a session exploring interactive game design, titled The New Frontier: Immersive Game Design; a hands-on workshop that will examine the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education's (CAPE) successful professional development model; and a session that investigates a new Title I arts integration program, SMART.

On Thursday, April 25, participants are invited to a cocktail reception and dinner cruise that travels along the Hudson River passing by landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building. Sailing on the World Yacht's stunning flagship, the Princess, the cruise guests will enjoy a four-course dinner, breathtaking views of the city skyline, music and entertainment by Blue Jupiter A Capella.

This special anniversary conference includes site visits on Friday, April 26, offering participants an opportunity to visit a Young Audiences affiliate in the tri-state area to see the work we do firsthand. The fieldtrips include a local excursion to New York City schools to see Young Audiences New York's arts-in-education programs, a trip to Young Audiences of New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania that focuses on developing strategic partnerships with funders and other stakeholders, and a site visit to Connecticut that investigates how the arts can impact persons with special needs.

For a complete schedule, visit www.youngaudiences.org.